Refrigerating cabinet



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Patented Mar. 9, 192.6.`

" UNITED STATES-jP-ATENro FFICE..

111m pl I RWIN, or anoniem weer VIRGINIA.

'REFFIGERATING CABINET.

-Application led June 12, .1925. Serial No. 86,719 i To all whomJ it mayl concern.'

Be it known that I, HrRA'M D. IRWIN, a

-citizen of the United States, residing at Beckley, in the county of Raleigh and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerating Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to a refrigerating cabinet for use in displayingand dispensing groceries such, for example,

as vegetables, although other commodities` may be displayed in and dispensed from the apparatus. It is a well known fact that there is great Waste in marketing vegetables such as lettuce, celery, radishes, tomatoes,

etc., because such vegetables are liable tol wilt and become unsalable if they are merely arranged in trays or bins open tothe atmosphere, as is ordinarily the case. `Fur thermore, unless suchl vegetables present a fresh appearance, they do not appeal to customers and sales are frequently lost on this account. one of its objects to provide a refrigerating tables may be displayed to best advantage and maintained in a perfectly fresh condition at minimum'cost for the ice employed` in maintaining a refrigerating temperature within the cabinet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerating cabinet so4 constructed Therefore, the invention has as- -cabinetin which groceries'su'ch as vege-.

that by the use of a minimum quantity of ice, a suitably low temperature may be maintained in the cabinet to refrigerate the vege tables or other commodities contained 'therein, ythe arrangement being such that the ice employed is introduced into the cabinet at one point only, thereby obvia-ting the necessity of packing ice about all sides of th several compartments. l v

Another object. of the invention is toV so construct and ,arrange the cabinet and the ice chamber thereof,` that whenthe cabinet is in use, full benefit will be derived from the ice and a complete exchange of heat units will take'lplalce and economy'will thus be effected. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerating cabinet of such construction that the vegetables or other gro-` ceries displayed therein will` 'be protectedV from contamination and in every yay maintained 1n a sanltary condltlon.

arrows.

Another object ofthe invention is to so construct the cabinet that the compartments in which the vegetables 0r other commodities are stored and displayed may be readily removed when it becomes necessary to clean the circulating systemof the cabinet, the removal of said compartments serving to expose allsurfaces on which scum might accumulate. \,In the accompanying drawings:

yFigure 1 is a perspectivev view of thel cabinet embodying the invention. f Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional vie'w through the cabinet.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional vview taken substantially on the line 3-3 .of Figure 2, on an enlargedscale, looking in the directionindicated bylthe arrows. l vFigure 4 is,a a'sectional view on the line '4 4 of Figure 2,l on anenlarged scale,

looking inthe direction indicated by the -Figure 5 is aldetail sectional view illustrating the manner of securing the vegetable compartments within the body of the cabinet. I n

lThe cabinet `proper 'comprises' a body indicated in general by the numeral 1, which '1s preferablyof oblong rectangular form and relatively narrow, and the said cabinet comprises side Walls 2, end wallsV 3, and a bottom 4, each of the said walls and the said bottom comprising inner and outer sections within which is arranged a packing 5 of sawdust or' other insulating material. An oblong rectangular frame 6 rincluding sides 7, ends 8, and vcross .pieces 9, is disposed upon the top of the bodv of the cabinet with its side members 7 audits end members S' Vresti-ng 133011 and securedrespectively to the upper si es of the slde walls 2 and end walls ,3 of lthe body of'themcabinet. The cross compartments. Normally, howeverf the the vegetables or the like whichare stored Q 1,576,328 doors will remain Kclosed with their -rela\ relativel wide perpendicular slot 27 extendtively adjacent edges meeting each` other ing near y to the upper edge of the wall and f and resting upon the cross pieces 9 so that opening at its lower end through the lower e ge of the wall. The bottom of the 'unit,

within the several compartments, will be indicated in general by the numeral 28, is 7 0 protected from contamination, and. likelpreferably formed from a single long sheet wise,` there will be no escape of cold air of metal which at intervals in its length is romwthe cabinet, the `glass panes 11 probent to provide spaced vwall portions 29 viding for-advantageous displa of the conwhich are substantially perpendicular to the tents of the cabinet and, in act, displaysaid bottom 28 and are united at their upper 75 dinary open bin or tray.

ingthe contentsto a better advantage than ends by integral portions 30 of the same if th :commodities weie placed in an orplate; The portions of theplate which constitute the bottoms of the several compa-rt- Lining sheets 13 of sheet metal are scments, which coii'ipartiiicnts are indicated in cured to and extend over the inner faces of general by the numeral 3l, are indicated by 9 the side walls 2 of the cabinet, and thesethe numeral 32, and the side edges-ofthese lining sheets extend for the entire length portions and likewise the side edges of the of the said side walls andfrom the u per portions 29, are formed with lauges indiside of the bottom l to a point slig tly cated respectively by the numerals 33 and spaced below the upper edges ofthe side 34, the se"tlanges being welded, soldered, or 85 i walls. Similar liningpsh'eets 14 are-secured otherwisesecui'ed in a. fluid-tight manner to they inner faces of the end walls of the to the, inner. faces of the side walls 22, the cabinet, and a bottom lining sheet 1 5 1s seflanges 33.' being'secured to the said sidev -cured to and extends over the upper side walls along the lower edge portions of the of thei said bottom` 4 ofy the cabinet, tlief latter and between' the slot 27, and tlie` 9 edges of all of the sheetsabeing united so flanges 34 being secured to the 'said side as to provide'lluid-tightjoints and thu's r'ewalls 22 at the opposite side of the .slot 27. vent seepage of water to the walls and ot- In this manner, 'the unit is formedto protomoi the body of the cabinet. i vide thel compartments 3l referred to, in

It will be observed at this oint that'the which compartments the vegetables or the 95 cabinet is supported in an inc ined position, like `to be displayed and dispensed, are

f rather ythan horizontally, one end 'of the stored, and it will be evident that the por- 216, and the other end vof the cabinet being walls dividing relatively adjacent ones of cabinet resting upon one end of a base board tions v-29 and 30 constitute hollow partition I supported in an elevated position by an upthe compartments,. the partitionv walls be- 7" right .17 mounted upon the other end of the ing closed at their tops and open at their base board. Side boards 1'8r are arranged to bottoms. One ofthe p artition walls, indiv extend along the opposite .longitudinal cated, specifically by t e numeral 36, conedges 'of the base board 16 andare likewise stitutes the end wall of the unit as a Iwhole secured to the'f bottom of the cabinet at opand constitutes a portion of the plate from 105 posite sides of the lower end thereof, and which the bottom is formed, bent upwardly artitions 19 extend upwardl from the base at right angles to the respective bottom porard 16. yand the side boa s 18 and serve tion 32 and located' relatively close to the to divide the base structure into bins 20 lower end-wall ofthe bod of the cabinet.

in which roceries such as potatoes, onions. A partition wal-l 35 is fixe within the body 0 and the. 1i 8'Wh'ch d0 ntreqllr reflgeiof the cabinet and is spaced somewhat from ation, may be stored." The' purpose in, the. upper end wall 'ofy the cabinet so as mounting thecabinet in inclined position-.to provide an ice compartment' indicated by will presently be more fully explained. i the numeral 37.

i, AThe cabinetincludes a multiple compareu In orderv that the sidscf the miltipie ment storage unit which is indicated in gencampartment .unit may `be, maintained, eral by the numeral 21, and this unit 1s preff spaced with relation tothe lining sheets 13 I metal. The unit comprises -si'de walls 22' cabnet, 'spacin .members 38 are provided which are "provided atvtheir u erl edges and each of 't ese members comprises a 'Aformed along the upper edges of the lining sides of tlie'shets1'3, the ridges ofthe angle l sheetsy 3, packing strips 25 being'- interiron pieces being'engagedby the 'outer sides -V 23, and threaded into openin formed ,-in'

emblymade, ill 'tS entirety, filOIll Sheet' or, in other words, -the side walls oi? `the with longitudinally 'extendin an esv 23 length of V-angle iron 39- having Ilange`s40 which project outwardly at rig tang es and, extending along its longitudinal edges and extend above the llangeseA24:which;aresecurednin any suitable manner to theinner osed between the "linges, and'screws y26, of `the side walls 22 ofl the said multiple. ing fitted thrbugli openings in the anges compartment unit. The compartments 3l r are ofvless depth than the interior -of the the flanges '24. At intervals in its length, cabinet'body, and in o'rder to suitably Vsupeach ofthe yside walls 22 is formed with a port o rv sustain the'bottoms, ofthe compart- 13 izo.

ments, short angle iron pieces 41 o f the same forni as the pieces 39 are secured, preferably in pairs, as in the case of the members 38, upon the uppei` side of the bottom sheet of the cabinet body beneath each of the compartments 31.

The numeral 42 indicates anoverow pipe which has its upper end fitted through tie lower end wall of the cabinetI near the top thereof, and the said pi e extends beside. the said end wall of the ca 'inet and preferably through an opening 43 in the floor F upon which the structure is disposed. An elbow section 44 is preferably fitted to the lower end ot' the pipe 42, or the lower end of the pipe mayA itself be bent upwardly to slibstantially U-form, so as to provide a water seal to prevent theentrance of insects into the cabinet byl way ofthe pipe. A faucet 45 is fitted in the partition wall 35 nearthe bottom thereof, and the valve of the faucet is provided with a relatively long -stem '46 which extends, upwardly between said wall.

,and the adjacent side of the uppermost one of the storage compartments 21 and iS provided with a handle 47 at its upper end. whereby the valve may be readily opened and closed.

` The invention contemplates filling the ice compartment 37 with ice, through this com artment water which will e cooled by the ice and will cool the walls of the )several compartments 31, and in order to maintain a proper water lever about the compartments and avoid flooding cof the cabinet, means is provided which will now be described. The means referred to comprises a series of damming baiflesindicated in general by the numeral and positioned each within the and. pouring' in afquantity of bounds of a respective one of the hollow fwhieh fthey t to,r the drawings and particularly Figure \2 partition walls 29.- Each of the-f damming baffles is, preferably formed from a sheet of metal folded upon itself as at 46 yto provide slightly diverging walls 47 which, at their llower edges, are provided with outstandingl fianges '48 secured in any suitable fluid-tight Y manner to the upper side of the bottom sheet 15 of the cabinet, the said walls 47 at their lateral edges being provided with similar flanges 49 which are secured in a fluidstight manner to the inner faces of theI lining sheets 13. The baffles are lso spaced throughout the series .that they spaced with relationl to the sides and tops of the respective partition walls 29 wit-hin are received, and by reference thereof, it will be observed that the damming baifies project upwardly into the respective partitionwalls nearly to the top thereof except in the case of one or more of the bafiles which are located near the upper end of the cabinet and which baffles are successively decreased in height in order will be symmetrically vranging;l in the direction of the cabinet. i

It will now be evident that the dan'nnine balics, in effect, divide the interior of the body of the cabinet into a number of water compartments, and that the compartments 31 lof the multiple compartment unit are substantially immersed in the water present in the respective water compartments of the cabinet body; The process of'refrigeration is begun by packing a quantity of cracked ice in tli'ice compartment 37 and then o] cliinp; the faucet 45 and pouring sufic nt water into this compartment to bring; the water levell inthe several water compartments of. the cabinet bodv to water will overflow through the pipei42.

of said upper end apjint whereI son'ie of the ice will be melted when the water isffirst introduced, additional ice listhen 1nn troduced into the compartmentji'until the compartment is lfilled. As the ice mclts, water .will flow over the upper edge ofthe uppermost dammingr` bafiic into the first water compartment of the cabinet; body., and water will be displaced from this compartv ment and overflow over the upper edge EN) y of the next damming bafiie, and so on' throughout the .series, so that there is a continuous discharge of water from the lower end of the overflow pipe 42. Thel ice water in the. water compartments of the cabinet body will, of course, surround all sides and -thebottoms of the 'respective compartments 31 so that the vegeta-bles or other groceries contained in the compartments 31 will be kept at a sufficiently low temperature to keep them in a fresh con-y dition for several days. By forming 'the` bafiie which is nearest the upper end of the cabinet, of less height than the other baffles, water at a. very low temperature willbe delivered, morev quickly to the water comparis ments near'tlie bottom of the cabinet, inas- 'much as the .upper water compartment wiil fill and overrow more quickly than the said lower compartments. Furthermore,l inasmuch as the upper water compartment is nearer the ice compartment 3T, it requires a less volume of water to cool the respective compartn'ient 31 thanis rrequired in the case of .the lower compartment f If desired, an oblong rectangular frame 50 of narrow beading' may be provided and removably disposed within the top of `theI cabin'et'to rest upon the flanges 23 and .thus hide the heads of vthe screws 26, it being' understood that this frame may be readily removed and the screws 26 removed so as to permit offbodily removal of the multiple compartment storage unit .when it becomes necessary to clean the scum from the walls and bottom of the water `compartment within the cabinet and from the baifles45.l

The lower end ofl the multiple compartment storage unit is preferably spaced from compartment what l n n l u/ 1. A refrigeratmg cabinet comprlsing aninclined cabinet-,bodywhaving an overflow at its lower end, and anice compartment at its upper end, a plurality of storage compartments withi the body, andidamming baffles within the body arranged between successive ones ot the storage compartments to .dam the overflow from the 1pc-e compartment and maintain a body of cold-water about the walls of the storage compartments.v

2. A refrigerating cabinet comprising a cabinet body having an inclined bottom, the body having an overflow at' its lower end, and an ice compartment at its upper end, a plurality ot' storage compartments within the body-.spaced from the walls thereof and from the bottom of the body, and damming battles within the body extending upwardly from the lbottom thereof between the said storage compartments and transversely between the sidewalls ot' the body whereby to provide a plurality of cold water compartmentseach accommodating a respective one of the storage compartments and whereby to damy the overflow from thel ice compartment and maintain a body of cold water in ea'cliwater compartment.

8. A refrigerating cabinet comprising an inclined cabinet body having an overow at its lower end located near' at the upper. end 'of the bod*Y in communication at lits bottom with the 1nterior ot'4 theV body, an inclined series of storage compartments Within the body spaced 'from Lthe walls ot the body and trom the bottom of the body, and a plurality of damming baflles upstanding from the bottom of the body and extending between'the side walls thereof and located between'the said Astorage compartments whereby to dam the overflow from the ice compartment and maintain a' constant level fof waterfin the ,i .spaces between thesaid bailies and about the walls of each storage compartment.

4. A refrigerating cabinet comprising an inclined cabinet body having/an( overiow at its lowerv end and anice compartment at itsk upper end, a multiple compartmentstorage unit comprising a4 series of compart-` ments and intervening hollow partition walls dividing the same, the partition walls being Y closed at their tops and open at their opposite sides and botto-ms, and damming baf- 'es within the partition wallsupstanding Valls and its top, an ice/ having openings "compartments, and a` hinged door for closlnextV adjacent the lower rhe'i ht than the other battles,

be lower' than constituting means for damming the overtlowl from the ice compartment and thereby maintaining a body ot cold water about the walls of each storage compartment.

5. A retrigeratingcabinet comprising an inclined cabinet body having an overtlowat its lower end and an ice compartment at its upper end, a multiple compartment storage unit comprising a series of compartments and intervening hollow partition walls dividing the same, the partition walls their topsand open at their opposite sides and bottoms, damming ties within the partition walls upstanding from the bottom ot the cabinet body and constituting means for damming the over- ,tlow from the ice compartment and thereby maintaining a body of cold water .about the walls ot each storage compartment, the sai'd multiple compartment storage unit'being bodily removable, and means upon the bottom ofthe cabinet body for spacing the corresponding Walls and the bottom of the said unittherefrom and thus provide a water space about all sides of each compartment of the unit.

6. A refrigerating cabinet comprising an incl-ined cabinet body having an its upper end, a plurality ofstorage compartments within the body, dammingl battles within the body arranged to dam the over overfiow at its lower end, and an ice compartment at flow fromv thevice compartment and maintain a body of cold water -about the Walls of'each storage compartment, a I frame extending over the top of the Lsaid cabinet body and therein Vabove the storage ing each of said openings individually.

.7.' Av refrigerating cabinet comprising a' body, an in clined 'series of storagevcompartments within the body, an overflow pipe leading from the Vbody at that end thereot` end of the series,

an ice compartment within the body at the upper end of the series, and battles within" Athe body between Said compartments for maintaining successively Water about each of said. storage com artments, from the overflow end of the body to the end at which the ice compartment is located, the uppermost baffle being of less whereby..'the

los

elevated bodiesl of col d-Water level about the upper baffles will" that about the lower baffles. Intestimony whereof I aix my signature.

HIRAMD. IRWIN. [hay 

